80s The Best Spin-Offs of the '80s

The '80s are widely considered a golden age of TV. From great sitcoms to inventive late-night variety shows, the 1980s really changed television forever. But not to be forgotten in all of that great TV are the tremendous spin-offs that premiered in the '80s. These are the best1980s spin-offs, ranked from best to worst by TV fanatics. Some of these shows expand the universe and continue the journey of fan-favorite characters from their predecessors, while other great 1980s spin-offs on this list merely take place in the same location as the show they're based on.

What are some of the series that you'll find on this list of1980s spin-offs list? After appearing in popular segments on The Tracey Ullman Show, The Simpsons were given their own series in 1989. This great spin-off holds many titles including the longest-running sitcom and the longest-running animated program in America. Mork & Mindy is another good spin-off that aired in the 1980s.

A Different World followed The Cosby Show character, Denise Huxtable, as she went off to college. Other great shows on this top '80s spin-offs list include The Jeffersons, The Facts of Life, and Muppet Babies.

What is the best 80s spinoff? Be sure to vote up your favorites and see if other Ranker users agree with you!

list ordered by

1

55 16

Happy DaysRon Howard, Henry Winkler, Marion Ross Spin-off of Love, American Style (1969–1974). Happy Days is an American television sitcom that aired first-run from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life ...more

2

43 19

The SimpsonsDan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Julie Kavner Spin-off of The Tracey Ullman Show (1987–1990). The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical depiction of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by the ...more

3

36 19

The JeffersonsIsabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Marla Gibbs Spin-off of All in the Family (1971–1979). The Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through July 2, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. The show was produced by the T.A.T. ...more

4

37 20

Laverne & ShirleyPenny Marshall, Cindy Williams, David L. Lander Spin-off of Happy Days (1974–1984). Laverne & Shirley is an American television sitcom that ran on ABC from January 27, 1976 to May 10, 1983. It starred Penny Marshall as Laverne De Fazio and Cindy Williams as Shirley Feeney, ...more

5

31 16

Mork & MindyRobin Williams, Pam Dawber, Ralph James Spin-off of Happy Days (1974–1984). Mork & Mindy is an American sitcom broadcast from 1978 to 1982 on ABC. It stars Robin Williams as Mork, an extraterrestrial who comes to Earth from the planet Ork in a small, one-man ...more

6

30 18

Mama's FamilyVicki Lawrence, Beverly Archer, Ken Berry Spin-off of The Carol Burnett Show (1967–1978). Mama's Family is an American television sitcom starring Vicki Lawrence as Thelma Harper. The series is a spin-off of a recurring series of comedy sketches on The Carol Burnett Show and Carol ...more

7

35 26

Family MattersReginald VelJohnson, Jaleel White, Kellie Shanygne Williams Spin-off of Perfect Strangers (1986–1993). Family Matters is an American sitcom which originated on ABC network from September 22, 1989 to May 9, 1997 and then aired on CBS network from September 19, 1997, to July 17, 1998. A spin-off of ...more

8

31 23

The Facts of LifeLisa Whelchel, Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn Spin-off of Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986). The Facts of Life is an American sitcom that originally ran on the NBC television network from August 24, 1979, to May 7, 1988, making it one of the longest running sitcoms of the 1980s. A ...more

9

33 26

Star Trek: The Next GenerationPatrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes Spin-off of Star Trek: The Original Series (1966–1969). Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry twenty-one years after the original Star Trek series debuted in 1966. Roddenberry, ...more

10

25 19

BensonRobert Guillaume, James Noble, Inga Swenson Spin-off of Soap (1977–1981). Benson is an American television sitcom which aired from September 13, 1979, to April 19, 1986, on ABC. The series was a spin-off from the soap opera parody Soap; however, Benson discarded the ...more

11

26 22

Muppet BabiesGreg Berg, Katie Leigh, Laurie O'Brien Spin-off of The Muppet Show (1976–1981). Jim Henson's Muppet Babies, commonly known by the shortened title Muppet Babies, is an American animated television series that aired from September 15, 1984 to November 2, 1991 on CBS. The show ...more

12

22 23

A Different WorldLisa Bonet, Kadeem Hardison, Jasmine Guy Spin-off of The Cosby Show (1984–1992). A Different World is an American television sitcom which aired for six seasons on NBC. It is a spin-off series from The Cosby Show and originally centered on Denise Huxtable and the life of ...more

13

16 22

Empty NestRichard Mulligan, Dinah Manoff, David Leisure Spin-off of The Golden Girls (1985–1992). Empty Nest is an American sitcom that originally aired on NBC from 1988 to 1995. The series was created as a spin-off of The Golden Girls by creator and producer Susan Harris. For its first ...more

14

13 29

Count DuckulaDavid Jason, Ruby Wax, Jimmy Hibbert Spin-off of Danger Mouse (1981–1992). Count Duckula is a British children's animated comedy-drama horror television series created by British studio Cosgrove Hall as a spin-off from Danger Mouse, a series in which the Count Duckula ...more

15

11 26

Just the Ten of UsBill Kirchenbauer, Deborah Harmon, Heather Langenkamp Spin-off of Growing Pains (1985–1992). Just the Ten of Us is an American sitcom starring stand-up comedian Bill Kirchenbauer as Coach Graham Lubbock, a teacher and the head of a large Catholic family with eight children living in ...more

16

10 25

What's Happening Now!!Martin Lawrence, Fred Berry, Anne-Marie Johnson Spin-off of What's Happening!! (1976–1979). What's Happening Now!! is an American television situation comedy that serves as a sequel series to the 1970s sitcom What's Happening!!, focusing on its main characters as adults. The show ran ...more

17

12 29

She-Ra: Princess of PowerMelendy Britt, George DiCenzo, John Erwin Spin-off of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983–1985). She-Ra: Princess of Power is an American animated television series produced in 1985 by Filmation. It is a spinoff of Filmation's highly successful He-Man and the Masters of the Universe series, ...more

18

9 28

Joanie Loves ChachiScott Baio, Erin Moran, Al Molinaro Spin-off of Happy Days (1974–1984). Joanie Loves Chachi is an American television spin-off of the American sitcom Happy Days that was originally broadcast on ABC from March 23, 1982 to May 24, 1983. It stars Erin Moran and Scott ...more

19

9 30

Degrassi Junior HighPat Mastroianni, Stefan Brogren, Duncan Waugh Spin-off of The Kids of Degrassi Street (1979–1986). Degrassi Junior High is a Canadian CBC Television teen drama series that was produced from 1987 to 1989 as part of the Degrassi series. The show followed the lives of a group of students ...more

20

8 28

Day by DayJulia Louis-Dreyfus, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Thora Birch Spin-off of Family Ties (1982–1989). Day by Day is an American sitcom starring Douglas Sheehan, Linda Kelsey, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Courtney Thorne-Smith, and Thora Birch. Day by Day was telecast from ...more